Waymo robotaxi blocks road during mass shooting in US
In Austin, the U.S., a Waymo-operated driverless taxi blocked the path of emergency vehicles during a mass shooting near a bar, Autoevolution reported. Multiple casualties were reported.
Ambulance was unable to get through
The robotaxi got stuck across the road while making a U-turn, occupying two lanes at once. On a normal day, it would have been a minor irritation; however, at that moment, an ambulance was rushing to the shooting scene. A video of the incident circulated online.
A police officer approached the car and contacted the Waymo operator via the integrated speaker. The vehicle cleared the way after more than a minute had passed. The Austin-Travis County EMS confirmed the incident, emphasizing that the officer adhered to established procedures.
WATCH: A Waymo vehicle blocked traffic as first responders raced to the Austin bar mass shooting, where three were killed and 14 injured.
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) March 1, 2026
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Not a new problem
Robotaxis have already faced criticism in San Francisco for blocking roads, hindering emergency services, and illegally taking over school buses. Now similar issues are arising in Austin — a city commonly referred to as one of the most driverless-taxi-friendly cities in the U.S.
The company’s statement
Waymo stated that the vehicle was en route to a customer who had called for it after the shooting. According to the company, the robotaxi spotted the emergency services and immediately started a U-turn to make way, while the officer assisted.
However, users on Reddit and other platforms are calling for tougher liability measures for autonomous taxi operators. At the same time, experts note that complex, chaotic emergencies may pose serious challenges for autopilot algorithms.
Previously, Kursiv Cars reported another incident involving Waymo in Los Angeles, when its driverless taxi moved into a police standoff.
